JPD officers bring street experience to JSU classroom

Jackson Police Department officers on Thursday took what they described as “TAKING IT FROM THE STREETS TO THE CLASSROOM” by speaking at a criminal investigation seminar at Jackson State University, the department said in a Facebook post.

Sgt. Robert Taylor and Detectives Michael Pugh and Gillis Brown participated after being invited by Lt. Kevin Lavine, who the post identified as a criminal justice professor at JSU, a Hinds County deputy sheriff and a former Jackson police officer.

The Jackson Police Department, which serves the capital city of Jackson, Mississippi, did not provide additional details about the seminar in the post. Jackson State University is a public, historically black institution that offers criminal justice and related programs; seminars like this typically expose students to practical investigative methods and encourage dialogue between law enforcement and the academic community.

Officials did not release a schedule of topics or indicate whether the session was open to the public. We will provide more information as it becomes available.